With the Champions League semifinals upon us, the DI has enlisted its two most proficient FIFA players to weigh in and discuss who we’re likely to see advance to vie for the status of Champions League champion.

Max Tane: I found out I’m going to Europe after graduation. First thing I did without hesitating was to check my calendar to see if I would be overseas during the Champions League final. Sadly, I miss the game by about five days. I probably couldn’t get my hands on a tickets anyway, but it still would be quite the experience to at least watch the biggest game in European Soccer on European soil.

So instead of a patron at European venues, I’ll just be the ordinary guy that just watches from the seat of his couch, as we’re down to the final four of the UEFA Champions League. If you’re wondering, I’ve tangoed with the Champions League this season, breaking down the round of 16 matches. I was woefully off in a lot of those predictions. But hell, I do it for love of the game. 

Lanre Alabi: The Champions League this season has lived up to the hype and buzz it generates every season. In the previous decade, the jostle of the Champions League had been between the English football clubs and the Spanish giants. In the last two seasons, we’ve seen the English league get stronger domestically but fail on the biggest stage in European soccer.

This has been a monumental season in European soccer as we’ve seen the balance of club power shift to the German side of things. There are two Spanish sides in the semifinals and the Germans take up the other two slots with no English team making the finals. These semis highlight the continued success of three storied soccer franchises, the decline of a league and the surge of a new team on the block.

Real Madrid vs. Borussia Dortmund

Tane’s take: At this point, it’s pick your poison with the opponent you draw. You would think Real Madrid would be happy to see Borussia Dortmund in the semifinals, right? Better than meeting Bayern Munich, who knocked them out in the semifinals last year? Better than Barcelona, their arch-nemesis that has ran away with La Liga? Well, hang on a second, because this is a reunion for Real Madrid and Dortmund, as the two teams met twice in group play, where Real could never seem to find a way to break through the German side. Dortmund defeated Real on home soil and played to a draw in Madrid. Dortmund,last year’s reigning Bundesliga champions, have yet to lose in the entire tournament, and their miraculous rally in the quarterfinals against Malaga validated Dortmund as a team not warranting the term “party crasher.” If Real Madrid can manage a draw on the road in the first leg, they should be in good shape to close out Dortmund when the squads head to Madrid for the second leg. Cristiano Ronaldo and company have been playing on higher level, since the team essentially put all chips on the Champions League. Dortmund is doing all but the same, as some of the bigger clubs in Europe have targeted their star players for the summer transfer market. If Dortmund finds themselves down, like they were against Malaga, don’t expect Real Madrid to crumble.

Aggregate prediction: Real Madrid 4 , Borussia Dortmund 3

Alabi’s assessment: This appears to be an easy call on the surface. Real Madrid has all this talent and a wealth of experience. They also are the most successful franchise in Champions League history, winning the first five competitions and nine times overall. Dortmund is making only their 2nd appearance in the semis in the competition’s 58-year history. All history forgotten, Dortmund is unbeaten in The Champions League this season behind the firepower of Marco Reus, Robert Lewandowski and, not the least, Mario Gotze. They also have a win and a draw against Real Madrid in the group stages, so they appear well on their way. You have to closely re-examine again. Real Madrid has been defeated but they have left some impressive teams in their wake, including both Manchester sides and champions league powerhouse Ajax. Ultimately, you can’t look past Madrid’s offensive players on this tie. Cristiano Ronaldo, Mesut Ozil, Karim Benzema, Gonzalo Higuain, Luka Modric and the genius mind of Coach Jose Mourinho will be too much for the Dortmund defense to handle over a two-leg tie. While this defense has already done it before in the group stage, the lure of the final will be too big of a prize and Real Madrid will show up with their A-game. The only other teams in the world that can handle an excellent Madrid are playing in the other semifinal.

Aggregate prediction: Real Madrid 5, Borrusia Dortumund 3

FC Bayern Munich vs. FC Barcelona

Tane’s take: Pep Guardiola is the coach in waiting at Bayern Munich, but how much do you think he’s prepping his soon-to-be side to face his former side? Then again, how much prep does Bayern even need? They’ve looked to be the most consistent side in the tournament, throttling their opponents in the knockout stage. I don’t think they got the memo that Juventus was defending champion of Series A. They certainly won’t be intimidated by Barcelona. Especially with Lionel Messi fighting the injury bug. Yes, Barcelona’s style is iconic and methodical. But when Messi isn’t on the pitch, they are a completely different team. The first leg of this semifinal will set the tone. If Bayern are able to establish themselves on home soil and can get out to lead, they can focus on defending on the road. If the two teams enter the second leg tied or with a narrow margin, Bayern will have to be more of the aggressor at the Nou Camp and take the game to Barcelona, the way PSG was able to in the quarterfinals before Messi helped to provide their breakthrough.

Aggregate prediction: Bayern Munich 3, FC Barcelona 3 (Bayern through on penalty kicks)

Alabi’s assessment: Soccer aficionados were licking their chops at the prospect of the “Bayern vs. Barca” tie ever since the draw was determined. Two of the undisputed top-three (the order is down to everyone’s personal opinion) club teams in world soccer will face each other in this “Clash of Titans”-like fixture. It would seem like a travesty to bet against any team that has soccer Jesus. Lionel Messi is on, but his experience on the Argentine national squad has proved otherwise. Bayern Munich’s round of 16 tied with Arsenal FC, which has shown that their team is definitely penetrable and they can be lulled to a false sense of security. Bayern Munich lost the final of last year’s competition to Chelsea FC on an 88th minute equalizer and game winning penalty from the always dependable Didier Drogba. The gut-wrenching loss on shootouts will only serve as inspiration for the Munich side and this year, there is no Didier to stop them. Messi is better and more dependable than Drogba but with his recent injury woes, Barca has seen a decline in their team’s form. Messi will be on tap for the first leg, and even after a 70 percent fit, Messi is better than almost any other professional player. Arjen Robben and his supporting cast will try their best to match Barcelona’s productivity, but Messi, Xavi, Iniesta and the burgeoning Pedro will prove too much for the Bavarian side to handle. While I won’t be thrilled with yet another “El Classico” final between Madrid and Barca, I’m going with FC Barcelona.

Aggregate prediction: FC Barcelona 3, FC Bayern Munich 2

Lanre is a sophomore in Media. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @WriterLanre.

Max is a senior in Media. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @AirMaxTane.